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The Southern- Ocean Whale Sanctuary

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Thesis Discipline

Science

Degree Grantor

University of Canterbury

Degree Level

Postgraduate Certificate

Degree Name

Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies

Save the Whales'. This slogan has become a familiar anti-whaling term for voices across the globe and invokes a variety of images and opinions associated with whaling. Since the 1960s and 70s whaling has been a topical and global issue. An important aspect of this issue is the conservation and protection means that have been established as a result of the increased global awareness of the consequences of whaling. The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary' is a representation of this. It has been referred to as the 'grandest and most recent of all the protected areas' (Castello 1996, p. 19) as seven of the great whale species including the blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) and humpback whales (Megaprera novaeangliae), classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation Of Nature, reside within the Sanctuary boundaries. The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary is continuous with the Indian Ocean Sanctuary and together; the two sanctuaries should protect at least one population Of each ofthe seven whale (Rose, 1996). The main feature of a whale Sanctuary is the prohibition of whaling as this is the main activity affecting the status of whales. Whale sanctuaries are chosen with the specific aim of whale protection. Any given area can be declared a whale Sanctuary as long as whales are found there and other characteristics of the area are likely to be of little importance (Maffei, 1996). Save the Whales'. This slogan has become a familiar anti-whaling term for voices
across the globe and invokes a variety of images and opinions associated with
whaling. Since the 1960s and 70s whaling has been a topical and global issue. An
important aspect of this issue is the conservation and protection means that have been
established as a result of the increased global awareness of the consequences of
whaling. The Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary' is a representation of this. It has been
referred to as the 'grandest and most recent of all the protected areas' (Castello 1996,
p. 19) as seven of the great whale species including the blue whales (Balaenoptera
musculus), southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) and humpback whales
(Megaprera novaeangliae), classified as endangered by the International Union for
the Conservation Of Nature, reside within the Sanctuary boundaries. The Southern
Ocean Whale Sanctuary is continuous with the Indian Ocean Sanctuary and together;
the two sanctuaries should protect at least one population Of each ofthe seven whale
(Rose, 1996).
The main feature of a whale Sanctuary is the prohibition of whaling as this is the main
activity affecting the status of whales. Whale sanctuaries are chosen with the specific
aim of whale protection. Any given area can be declared a whale Sanctuary as long as
whales are found there and other characteristics of the area are likely to be of little
importance (Maffei, 1996).